The Chance of Love
Chapter 5
Bilbo didn't mind it; he didn't mind at all that that Adrian guy was flirting with him. He was actually enjoying it. The only problem was that it was really hard to focus on the things that they were being shown instead of staring at the hot stranger from last night. Luckily the tour was over before lunch, and it was just in time because Bilbo was getting quite hungry. He was invited to lunch by some of his new friends, but that group quickly disappeared when Adrian joined them. Some of the girls even chucked and waved at him when he was left alone with the older student.
"Sooo…" Adrian drawled out and Bilbo turned around to look him in the eyes. "Do you like it here or did I fail to impress you?"
Bilbo studied him for a second. "I quite like it here. It's different from where I come from."
"Good different or bad?"
"I haven't decided yet," Bilbo smiled.
"Then let me take you to lunch so that you'll be able to decide."
"I don't know," said Bilbo cheekily. "I don't know you."
"Come on," laughed Adrian. "You've known me for almost twenty-four hours, that should be more than enough." Bilbo couldn't help but laugh. "Besides I know a place where they serve excellent food. I promise you'll like it."
"Fine. Lead the way."
It was a short walk, not more than five minutes and Bilbo really enjoyed talking with Adrian. He found out he was twenty-three years old and that he was studying geology. This would be his last year and he was here for summer classes.
"Here we are," Adrian said proudly.
"Seriously? Fast food?" Bilbo questioned skeptically.
"Of course. Everyone likes fast food, and since I don't know you enough it was a safe pick. When I get to know you better I'll take you wherever you want."
Bilbo sent him a look. "You sound very sure of yourself."
"Of course."
"And what makes you think I like fast food?"
Adrian shrugged. "Everyone likes it."
"I try to avoid it as much as possible."
"Why? Your ass is a little bony," Adrian commented before walking inside.
Bilbo rolled his eyes before he followed him inside and found a table. Was he really attracting idiots? Adrian joined him a few minutes later, bringing two hamburger and a large portion of fries.
"Enjoy," he said before taking a bite.
Bilbo looked skeptically at the hamburger in front of him.
"You don't like it?"
"It's not that," Bilbo answered quickly. "I'm just trying to eat healthy." Adrian looked at Bilbo expectantly and Bilbo gave in and took a bite.
"How is it?"
"Very good, actually," said Bilbo with his mouth full. Adrian wanted to say something but Bilbo's phone rang. "I'm sorry, I have to take this."
Adrian nodded as he watched Bilbo answer his phone.
"Yes? Hello sweetheart!" He listened to Theo for a minute. "That's very good! Did you call to tell me anything else?" Bilbo mouthed 'I'm sorry' to Adrian as Theo continued to speak. "Okay. Have fun. I'll call you in the evening. Bye."
They sat in complete silence for a few moments.
"Boyfriend?" asked Adrian and Bilbo shook his head.
"My son actually."
Adrian's eyes widened. "Y-Your son? You have a son?" Bilbo nodded in response. "So you weren't joking when you said you had a son?"
"You thought I was joking?" asked Bilbo. He had a feeling this lunch will have an early end.
Adrian nodded. "You have no idea what all people say at those hours." Bilbo just shrugged before he took another bite. "You said he was two?" Bilbo nodded in response not wanting to talk with his mouth full. "So you had him when you were seventeen." It wasn't a question so Bilbo didn't say anything. "Is his… You know… Other father around?"
"No. We broke up. He still comes to visit and right now he's watching him."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's better this way."
Adrian noticed how uncomfortable Bilbo has become talking about it. "Let's change the subject. So do you like it here?"
"I like it very much."
"Does it have something to do with me?"
Bilbo sent him a look. "You are very cocky, you know that?"
"I'm just trying to charm you."
Bilbo huffed. "Really?"
"Really. Is it working?"
"Maybe," Bilbo smiled.
He enjoyed the rest of the lunch in Adrian's company. He was a nice change and he was nice and really cocky for most of the time, like he was sure Bilbo liked him. There was no point in denying it - Bilbo liked him and he liked him a lot. He spent the next three days with him. Adrian showed him around the campus in the morning and they spent the afternoons getting to know each other. And before Bilbo wanted it, it was time to return back home.
Those few days that he got to spend with Adrian were fun and he wanted to see him again, but it was time to go back to reality. Back to his son who was missing him more and more and after a few days of not seeing him wanted him back. So Bilbo packed his things and went back home, not telling Adrian that he wasn't planning on coming back.
:::
Theo was having trouble keeping his eyes open even though he knew he would get to see his Papa very soon. It was almost midnight and Thorin had offered to come pick Bilbo up at the bus station and Theo insisted on coming with him. It would be much easier to just leave him at home, but Thorin had to give in to Theo's onslaught of crocodile tears.
When Thorin pointed out that Bilbo was coming back Theo came back to life as if a charger was plugged into him. He tried to wriggle out of Thorin's hold when the bus came to a stop, but Thorin didn't let him go.
The bus stopped and when the doors opened the first to come out was Bilbo. Theo squealed in delight and reached toward him.
"Hello," Bilbo smiled and crossed the distance between them so that he could take Theo from Thorin. "I missed you so much," he told his son as Theo clutched to him like his life depended on it. Bilbo pressed a kiss to Theo's cheek and the two-year-old wrapped his arms around Bilbo's neck and started crying. "I'm here, sweetheart. I'm here. I promise I won't leave you again," Bilbo tried to soothe him and sent Thorin a sympathetic look.
"Do you want me to get your bag?"
"Yes please," said Bilbo and watched Thorin get his bag. Once the bag was in the car there was only a simple problem of convincing Theo to let go of his shirt so that they could go home.
"You've became quite the expert," Bilbo observed as Thorin strapped Theo into the car seat without any difficulties even when Theo was being extremely difficult and was giving Thorin hell because he wanted to sit with Bilbo.
"We went out together a couple of times and I know how annoying you become if he doesn't sit in the car seat."
"So you did it just to please me, even when I was too far away to notice it or to get angry?"
Thorin closed the car doors after Theo was in the car seat and sent Bilbo a look. "I did it for his safety."
"Of course," smiled Bilbo and got into the car.
Theo calmed down after a few minutes and they fell into an uncomfortable silence.
"You're taking us home?" Bilbo asked.
"I figured you'd want Theo with you and I don't think he would want to go to sleep without you. All his stuff are in the back." Bilbo only nodded at the given explanation. "I assume you had fun?"
Bilbo had to admit that he was surprised at Thorin's question. He didn't expect anything from him, let alone ask how his trip was. "It was very nice. I met new people and they showed us around campus. You can't imagine how amazing everything looks. The dorms are beautiful. I stayed in one of the rooms but they showed me one of the family apartments and it was small but perfect."
"So you are going back then?"
"No, I'm expected at work on Monday. I'm not going back. It's just that my dad thought it would be a nice experience to go and he was right. I haven't had that much fun ever since Theo was born. I don't know why am I telling you this," Bilbo admitted. "You go to a party almost every weekend. You must think I'm crazy for saying that I had a blast."
Thorin didn't want to talk about it. "It's good to have you back. Theodore really missed you."
"I missed him too. Everything for Theo, right?"
Thorin didn't answer him, knowing it would only provoke a fight between them. The fact that it was always Bilbo who had to sacrifice everything was heavily implied. He had no friends, if you didn't count Fíli and Kíli, he didn't go out to have fun, he wouldn't be going to college. He went to work and took care of Theodore, that was all he did. He was always there when Theo needed him, and if the last few days showed anything they showed how little Thorin knew about his son. He spent so little time with him and because of that he was so adamant to not allow Bilbo to take him away. Because then he would not see him at all.
It wasn't that he didn't want to see Theo, it was just that the situation he was currently in didn't allow him to. He would love to spend every day with Theo, and Bilbo, of course, but right now that wasn't possible. He had to stop thinking about it otherwise he would say to hell with everything and kiss the life out of Bilbo. For now he had to help his family; there would be time for everything else later.
The car stopped in front of the house and Thorin helped Bilbo take the sleeping Theo inside and put him to bed while Bilbo greeted his parents.
"Goodnight," he heard them say as he walked downstairs and joined Bilbo in the kitchen.
"Thank you for watching Theo," Bilbo said the moment Thorin joined him. "I hope he wasn't too much trouble for you and that he didn't cause you any problems with your girlfriend."
"He was alright," Thorin assured him. "You are doing a wonderful job with him. He can be stubborn when he wants to be but other than that he is very well behaved." Bilbo only nodded at Thorin's words. "In these few short days I realized how much I miss him," Thorin continued and caught Bilbo's attention. "What I'm trying to say is, don't take it personally that I don't allow you to take him with you to college, I just don't want to be parted from him. I want you to go, but I'm not willing to give up Theodore for that. I hope you understand."
"Don't worry, I know," Bilbo assured him quietly. The house was quiet and the only ones up were the two of them. "Things are the way they are. I guess that I'm just never on the winning side. I mean look at you," Bilbo tried to smile. "You already finished your second year of college, one more year to go and you'll be able to help your father with his company. Marrying Dana will merge two of the biggest companies in the country. You have a bright future ahead of you."
"We're not engaged or anything," Thorin defended. "They're just rumors." Thorin ran his fingers through his hair, not knowing how to explain it. "I'm sacrificing myself for my family. Do you understand that? I'm not doing this because I want to, but because I have to."
"And I have to get up early in the morning," said Bilbo and changed the subject. "Again, thank you for watching Theo. If you want you can come see him whenever you like, it's not like we'll be going anywhere."
Thorin promised to come visit before Bilbo walked him to the door where they said their goodbyes and then Thorin left.
:::
Bilbo was doing his best not to cry. He would not cry. He would not. He would face everything with his head held high. But it was hard, pretending that everything was okay when it really wasn't. Just another bump on the road. No big deal. Except that now he was completely lost and didn't know what to do next. Of course trying to find a new job would be one of the first things he was planning to do, though he knew that the chances were slim. Who would be willing to hire him with high-school education? He knew the answer to that. Especially now that the Durins' company had laid off so many workers, mostly in management, but still, he couldn't compete with skilled workers with years of experience and proper education.
And Theo would need new clothes and the daycare bill from last month still had to be paid… And that doctor's appointment when Theo got vaccinated – that bill still hadn't come and Bilbo was dreading its arrival. He wouldn't be able to pay it.
He quickly turned away from those thoughts when he approached Thorin's house. He would see his son and that would make him feel better, at least he hoped it would.
"Bilbo," greeted Nola, "what are you doing here so soon?"
"I came for Theo," Bilbo explained as he closed the back door. "Can I get him myself or are they having visitors?"
"Only the boys are home," Nola explained and Bilbo nodded before walking through the kitchen and almost crashing into Thorin at the bottom of the stairs.
"Papa!" came a very excited call from Theo who was in Thorin's arms wearing swimming trunks and had floaties on his arms.
"What are you doing here?" Thorin asked immediately and Bilbo forced himself to meet his eyes instead of staring at Thorin's broad chest.
"I came to pick up my son."
"You left him here not an hour ago," Thorin pointed out.
"Is his bag upstairs?" Bilbo asked as he walked past Thorin but the latter caught his arm.
"Shouldn't you be at work?"
"Thorin!" Kíli came running into the hose completely drenched leaving a wet trail behind him. "The water is amazing! What is taking you so long? Oh, hi Bilbo."
"Here take him," said Thorin and gave Theo to Kíli. "I need to talk with Bilbo."
"Don't get him wet," quickly said Bilbo. "We're leaving."
Thorin watched Bilbo run up the stairs, no doubt trying to get away as soon as possible. "You're not allowed to take him in the pool without adult supervision," Thorin told his younger brother. "Did I make myself clear?" he asked when Kíli wanted to protest.
"Fine, we'll wait for you," Kíli promised before Thorin went upstairs after Bilbo. "They're no fun," Kíli whispered to Theo and took him outside allowing Bilbo and his brother to talk in peace. Thorin followed Bilbo up to his room where he found him packing Theo's things. It was more than obvious that something happened that got Bilbo so upset and Thorin was determined to found out what. He closed and the doors behind him and cleared his throat to get Bilbo's attention.
"I think that's all," Bilbo said quickly and stuffed Theo's shirt in the bag. He wanted to leave but Thorin was standing between him and the doors and he knew he was trapped.
"What happened?" asked Thorin. "Theodore was supposed to stay with me this morning while you were at work, and now, here you are. Not even an hour later you're back trying to take him away from me."
"Nothing happened. I just came for my son because I want to spend the day with him."
"I repeat – you were supposed to be at work."
"Yes Thorin, I know! I was supposed to be at work! But I'm not! Can you let it go?"
"Did something happen while you were at work?"
"No. Can I please go?" Bilbo asked and tried to push past Thorin.
"Did they change your schedule? Are you working in the afternoon?" Bilbo tried to pull his arm from Thorin's hold with little success.
"I just want you to tell me what happened," Thorin said quietly.
Bilbo yanked his arm from Thorin's grip before fixing him with a glare. "I got fired! Now you know. Happy?!"
Thorin needed a moment to understand what Bilbo was saying. "What? Why?"
"Hm, I don't know, Thorin! Maybe because I have a high-school education and since I'm not a student I can't work there anymore! Does that make sense to you or would you rather I wrote it down for you?!"
"You don't need to yell at me."
"Then maybe you should have let me go sooner! Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to get my son."
Bilbo wanted to leave but Thorin stopped him again. "It's warm enough and I promised him we'd go swimming in the pool."
"And I promised my parents to help them pay the bills this month and look how it all turned out. I'm sorry, this is not your fault or your concern," said Bilbo quietly. "I just want to take Theo and leave. I can't stay here and I will go crazy if I go home alone. I promise to bring him tomorrow morning and you can spend the whole day in the pool with him if you want."
Thorin nodded in agreement. "Alright, I'll see you tomorrow."
:::
Telling Theo they had to leave was the easy part. Watching him pout for the rest of the day, not so much. But Bilbo couldn't stay, he needed to leave and he needed Theo with him so that he would keep his mind occupied. It came as a surprise when he was told he can't work at the grocery store anymore; not even his mother knew. There was nothing he could do except take his things and leave.
He needed a job. Any job would be fine, but the problem was that it was impossible to get one. If you were a student looking for a job they had no problem hiring you. But if you were a single parent with no intention to continue your schooling, that was something else.
Thorin was willing to help. He offered to watch Theo while Bilbo spent day after day looking for a job, without any success. By the end of the week Bilbo was exhausted and completely down.
"You should take the bus," Thorin advised him when he came for Theo in the evening. Thorin was getting ready to go out with his girlfriend when Bilbo came for their son. "He's already asleep. We had an exciting day and he was exhausted. He fell asleep the minute I put him down."
Bilbo collected Theo's stuff and put them in the bag. "I think I'll walk."
"He's asleep-" Thorin tried to repeat only to be interrupted.
"Yes, Thorin, I heard you the first time," Bilbo snapped at him.
"Then why don't you-"
"Because I don't have any money! I know that this is a little hard for you to understand but I'm completely broke. I had to pay the bill for the doctor's appointment Theo had a few weeks ago yesterday and even though it's hard to believe, I can't afford a bus ride home."
Thorin honestly didn't expect to hear that. "You had no luck finding a job?"
"No," sighed Bilbo. "There are a few places I haven't asked yet, but I don't think I'll get a different answer." He tried to put a brave face on, but he knew Thorin didn't buy it. "I'll try again tomorrow. I should go. I know you have a date tonight and I don't want to disturb you. Thank you for watching Theo and enjoy your evening."
:::
The next few days weren't any better and with each day gone Bilbo was getting more and more desperate. He wasn't able to find a job and he knew that by sitting at home he was only a burden to his parents. Theo got to spend more time with Thorin and soon Bilbo realized that his son didn't need him as much as he thought he did. Thorin was able to take care of him without any difficulties and with each passing day Theo was having more trouble saying goodbye to him.
For Bilbo this couldn't get any worse. He lived for his son and the fact that Thorin wasn't capable of taking care of him. But now everything changed. In two short weeks Thorin got Theo completely under control. He wasn't afraid anymore that he'd do something wrong and he didn't allow Theo's crocodile tears to manipulate him. When he said something he meant it and Theo obeyed without protest. The roles switched and now Thorin was the doting parent and Bilbo was the crazy person who left him in the morning and came to pick him up in the afternoon.
After three weeks Bilbo finally admitted defeat.
His heart was breaking but he had no other choice. He had to talk to Thorin and explain everything. He was hoping that his ex-boyfriend would understand his decision and to his surprise Thorin really did. So it was settled. He was going to college. If it sounded as a reward at the beginning, it now felt like a punishment. Something he needed to do because he had no other choice. He was leaving his family behind, he was leaving his son behind and that hurt the most. Theo was going to stay with Thorin who wasn't planning on taking summer classes and decided to spend the summer at home. In the fall when he was to return back to school Theo would spend the day in daycare and then someone – Thorin promised it would be him – would pick him up in the afternoon. Or at least that was the plan.
Bilbo would return home every month for a few days and Theo would get to spend them with him. He would also be able to call his son every day and see him over Skype. But that was it. He wouldn't be able to afford to come back more than once a month. He made a few calls and found a job near campus, but even though he wouldn't have to pay for his classes and his room he would still have to pay for food and everything else he would need. Not to mention that Thorin asked him to pay half of the bill for Theo's daycare every month. What a bastard! Bilbo never asked for his help when Theo lived with him and he was always short on money. Now that his son would live with one of the richest families in the country Bilbo would have to pay for the most expensive daycare one could find in town. Sadly he was in no position to complain or make demands. He would just have to find a way to get to money.
Everything was arranged in a few short days. All of Theo's things were moved to Thorin's house and all that was left to do was to say goodbye. At first Theo was excited to stay with Thorin over the night, but then he started asking questions and everything went downhill from there. He asked why they moved all of his toys and took all of his things. Bilbo found some excuse for that. But when asked when he was coming to pick him up the next day he couldn't lie and told his son that he was staying with his daddy for a while. For Theo it wasn't enough and he wanted to know how many days was a while and Bilbo told him that it was for some time. And that was when the crying started.
As much as Theo got used to spending time with Thorin, he still wanted Bilbo for everything that went wrong. If he fell, if he got scared… He always called for Bilbo. And now Bilbo was telling him he was leaving and that he had to stay with daddy, and Theo was crying his eyes out.
"You're going to miss your bus," Thorin reminded him from where he was standing at the doorway watching Bilbo trying to calm their crying son. Theo was already put to bed and Bilbo hoped that Theo would fall asleep before he would have to leave. The last thing he wanted to do was leave while his son was crying. He didn't want Theo to think he was abandoning him.
"Yes, Thorin, I know," said Bilbo before turning back to Theo who continued to cry in Bilbo's shirt, not wanting to let go.
"I offered to drive you to the bus station, but if we don't leave now we won't get there in time."
"I know. Just give me a couple more minutes."
"We don't have a couple more minutes. Just leave him, he'll calm down, or he'll exhaust himself and fall asleep."
Bilbo looked at his watch. He would miss his bus if he didn't leave. "I have to go," he told Theo and removed Theo's hands from his shirt, "or I'll miss my bus. I love you very much." He pressed a kiss to Theo's head and put him back on the bed and tucked him in. For a moment Theo's crying stopped and Bilbo thought that it was finally over. "I'll call you every day, okay?" Theo just stared at him and Bilbo hoped he wouldn't start crying.
"Ready?" asked Thorin again.
"Be good for daddy." Bilbo pressed a kiss to Theo's forehead, stood up and made his way to the door.
"Go to sleep," Thorin told him, before turning the lights off. He left the doors opened ajar and followed Bilbo who was doing his best not to start crying.
They didn't even made a few steps when Theo came crying after them. "Papa!"
Bilbo turned around immediately and scooped the crying child up in his arms. "I'm here, I'm here."
Theo wrapped his arms around his neck with no intention of letting go.
"You'll miss your bus," said Thorin angrily.
"I'll go in the morning," answered Bilbo and took Theo back to his room.
"You'll miss your classes if you leave in the morning."
"I can't just leave him. He needs me and I won't leave him like this."
Thorin tried to stay calm so he left Bilbo alone with their son. Bilbo took Theo back to his room and sat down on the bed. Theo refused to let go of him and decided to stay in his arms as long as he could. Bilbo ran his fingers through his son's hair and after ten minutes Theo calmed down, though he still refused to be put down on the bed.
Thorin returned while Bilbo was telling Theo a story, trying to get him to sleep, but without any success. The two-year-old was determined to not fall asleep and he continued to clutch to Bilbo as hard as he could.
"Time for bed, buddy," said Thorin and Theo tightened his hold on Bilbo. When Thorin approached him to put him in bed the crying started again and it was Bilbo's job to calm him down.
Thorin tried to be patient, he really did, but if they continued doing this the way Bilbo wanted Theo would never fall asleep. Thorin came back a couple of times in the next hour and a half and each time Theo started crying and refused to let go of Bilbo. And with each time Thorin came back he was more and more irritated to the point when he had enough.
He marched into the room and pulled Theo for Bilbo's arms before the latter could even voice a complaint.
"Thorin!" called Bilbo and hurried after Thorin down the stairs. Theo crying his eyes out and reaching for Bilbo. "Thorin! Where are you going? Thorin!"
Before Bilbo caught up with him Thorin was already in the garage strapping Theo into the car seat in the back of his car.
"Can you please explain to me what you're doing?" Bilbo demanded.
Thorin ignored him. He was completely focused on Theo who tried to kick him to get away, but Thorin strapped him into the car seat without any difficulties. "Stop crying," he ordered and pointed a finger at Theo's chest. The two-year-old stopped crying only for a moment and Thorin quickly closed the doors before the wailing continued.
"Do you have everything you need?" he asked Bilbo quickly.
"W-What? Yes. Why? Thorin? Where are you going?"
Thorin ignored him and made his way to the other side of the car. "Get in," he ordered before he sat in and started the car. Bilbo had no other choice but to do as he was told.
Author's notes:
A big 'thank you' to Chamelaucium, who helped with this chapter.
I had so much fun today!
Thank you for all your lovely comments!
If you're bored find me on Tumblr.
Next chapter: Thorin moves in and the only one happy about it is Theo.